Keep the K1000 or ME Super?

bvy · Dec 8, 2015

I have too many cameras, and frankly, I just don't use a 35mm SLR that often. I prefer compacts for 35mm (T5, XA and XA4 are what I grab first). That said, I've acquired some nice Pentax lenses and two bodies -- a K1000 and an ME Super. The K1000 has a nonworking meter, but I like that I can pick the shutter speed. Which body would you keep?

Paul Howell · Dec 8, 2015

Sell both and get a Mx.

tony lockerbie · Dec 8, 2015

The K1000 will keep going longer, pretty tough cameras.

Pioneer · Dec 8, 2015

I have owned and used both. I kept the K1000. But that may be because I have a real soft spot for the K1000. It was my first camera after returning to photography in the very early 80s.

To be truthful, as long as you understand how to work with the meter, the K1000 will work for just about anything. It ain't sexy but it has been working for a lot of people for a very long time.

BAC1967 · Dec 8, 2015

Get rid of both and get a K1000 with a working meter.

Andrew O'Neill · Dec 8, 2015

I love my K1000 but the mirror has suddenly stuck in the up position....

lxdude · Dec 9, 2015

The ME Super lets you pick the shutter speed, too.

Steve Roberts · Dec 9, 2015

Get rid of both and get a KX !

georg16nik · Dec 9, 2015

bvy said:
I have too many cameras, and frankly, I just don't use a 35mm SLR that often. I prefer compacts for 35mm (T5, XA and XA4 are what I grab first). That said, I've acquired some nice Pentax lenses and two bodies -- a K1000 and an ME Super. The K1000 has a nonworking meter, but I like that I can pick the shutter speed. Which body would you keep?

Dumb both and if you need Pentax body for these lenses and manual speeds and reliability - KX or MX.
In case you need metal shutter - Ricoh XR-1, KR-5 or one of the other Cosina siblings with diff nameplates, same guts.

jwd722 · Dec 9, 2015

PDH said:
Sell both and get a Mx.

+1

Xmas · Dec 9, 2015

Andrew O'Neill said:
I love my K1000 but the mirror has suddenly stuck in the up position....

Can just be stickey foam if it is the original foam it is well past its use before date.
Hinge top and bottom door seals should be like new as well.

narsuitus · Dec 9, 2015

bvy said:
I have too many cameras...

If you have too many cameras, then just sell both.

Alan Gales · Dec 9, 2015

The only thing that I don't like about the K1000 is that you have to keep the lens cap on the lens or the battery runs out.

With a non working meter you solved that problem!

Xmas · Dec 9, 2015

Alan Gales said:
The only thing that I don't like about the K1000 is that you have to keep the lens cap on the lens or the battery runs out.

With a non working meter you solved that problem!

If you store the camera in a reasonably light gbag you don't need to remove the battery or use a lens cap.

Alan Gales · Dec 9, 2015

Xmas said:
If you store the camera in a reasonably light gbag you don't need to remove the battery or use a lens cap.

Thanks. That's good to know.

My problem is that I always carried my Contax around my neck with no lens cap but the battery switched off to save the battery. The switch was around the shutter release so I'd just switch it on before I took a shot. I know. I'm being picky! The K1000 is a great camera. A buddy of mine owns one that he bought in the early 1980's. He says it still works fine.

Pioneer · Dec 9, 2015

Alan Gales said:
Thanks. That's good to know.

My problem is that I always carried my Contax around my neck with no lens cap but the battery switched off to save the battery. The switch was around the shutter release so I'd just switch it on before I took a shot. I know. I'm being picky! The K1000 is a great camera. A buddy of mine owns one that he bought in the early 1980's. He says it still works fine.

I carry my K1000 the exact same way and leave the lens cap at home or in the car. I put the cap back on at the end of the day.

This K1000 battery switch phobia is an odd thing to me. People have switches on their cameras today and they still have to take the battery out and put them in a charger every day.

My last battery lasted almost 4 years. If yours does not last that long then you are either using really cheap (oops, inexpensive) batteries or you left that camera sit next to a window somewhere with no cap on the lens for a lot longer than you thought.

Most of the manufacturers of those classic cameras recommended that you put new batteries in the camera once every year.

EDIT - Besides folks, the last time I bought a set of three of these at Walmart it was $4. Not what I consider a budget breaker.

Alan Gales · Dec 10, 2015

Pioneer said:
I carry my K1000 the exact same way and leave the lens cap at home or in the car. I put the cap back on at the end of the day.

This K1000 battery switch phobia is an odd thing to me. People have switches on their cameras today and they still have to take the battery out and put them in a charger every day.

My last battery lasted almost 4 years. If yours does not last that long then you are either using really cheap (oops, inexpensive) batteries or you left that camera sit next to a window somewhere with no cap on the lens for a lot longer than you thought.

Most of the manufacturers of those classic cameras recommended that you put new batteries in the camera once every year.

EDIT - Besides folks, the last time I bought a set of three of these at Walmart it was $4. Not what I consider a budget breaker.

I don't own a K1000 (I did used to sell them new back in the day) but a battery lasting 4 years is surprising to me. I always changed my Contax batteries once a year and carried spares which I never ended up needing. Like you said, batteries are cheap. They don't add much weight or take up much room in your camera bag either!

gone · Dec 13, 2015

I'd probably go w/ the K1000. The small size of the ME is attractive, but the stupidly designed shutter speed buttons make that feature almost unusable. I like the simplicity of the K1000.

bvy · Dec 13, 2015

momus said:
I'd probably go w/ the K1000. The small size of the ME is attractive, but the stupidly designed shutter speed buttons make that feature almost unusable. I like the simplicity of the K1000.

I think that's what I've decided. The ME Super is available in the classifieds. Thanks to all.

Too old to care · Dec 13, 2015

bvy said:
I think that's what I've decided. The ME Super is available in the classifieds. Thanks to all.

I made the same decision about ten years ago, no regrets either.

Keep the K1000 or ME Super?

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